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Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has received overwhelming congratulatory messages from counterparts in the Pacific, Australia and APEC economies.

Australian Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull and Australia’s Opposition Leader Bill Shorten on different occasions sent their congratulatory messages to Mr O’Neill both pledging their support for PNG.

Small island nation leaders have also congratulated Mr O’Neill on his re-election, including several members of the Pacific Islands Forum who will accord PM O’Neill the respect when he attends the 48th PIF Meeting in Apia two weeks time.

Several APEC economy leaders have also sent their congratulatory messages personally to Mr O’Neill since his re-election.

O’Neill said he’s had many of his counterparts congratulate him personally from their countries but it was nothing to make a big issue about as these were relations both countries had maintained for years.

Late yesterday a statement from the Solomon Island Opposition Leader Jeremaiah Manele reached the paper. Manele like other leaders have congratulated the re-election of Peter O’Neill as the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.

In a letter to the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Manele extended his greetings on behalf of the Solomon Islands Parliamentary Opposition Group to Prime Minister O’Neill and the People’s National Congress party and its coalition partners.

“Your re-election victory is a true indication of the confidence and trust that the people of PNG have in your Party and its coalition partners. Mr Prime Minister, your victory also indicates PNG’s vibrant democratic process which demonstrates that PNG has become a mature democracy,” Mr Manele stated in his letter.

The Opposition Leader said he hopes Prime Minister O’Neill will continue to uphold the strong Melanesian ties with Solomon Islands and PNG share, which is not only embedded on bilateral cooperation but also on people to people relations and on our common traditions and culture as Melanesian societies.

“As you assume office, I wish to assure you of my personal commitment as well as that of the Solomon Islands Parliamentary Opposition Group, to continue to work closely without you and your administration to further strengthen the strong bilateral relations between our two countries in future,” Manele said in his letter.

Our coalition of Parties and Independent Members of Parliament have agreed to support a PNC-led Government form the Tenth Parliament of Papua New Guinea.

Following the 2017 National General Election, PNC has recorded the highest number of Members-elect, and is on-track to have the highest number of Members in this Parliament.

In accordance with National Electoral Laws, PNC is now anticipated to be called upon by His Excellency, the Governor-General, to form Government.

A PNC-led Government has had the opportunity to manage the affairs of the Nation for the past five years.

Through a most challenging time in the global economy, and through one of the worst droughts in history, the PNC-led Government has insulated our economy and our communities from these shocks.

During the past five years, the Government has delivered unprecedented growth through the delivery of clear and targeted policies.

There have been programs and policies that could have been run with greater efficiency, and lessons have been learnt. The new Government will increase its capability to meet the expectations of our people.

These policies have enabled an additional one million children to obtain an education, and have expanded access to healthcare for those who previously could not afford to see a doctor.

The infrastructure of our nation has expanded dramatically in all regions of the country.

Over the past five years the Government has also empowered provinces and districts to have their say and to guide resource allocation for local service delivery and infrastructure development.

Through more autonomous arrangements, we will continue to facilitate this devolution of authority and decision-making to enable people in our regions to have much greater say in the governance of their communities.

The reforms of the past five years have laid the foundations for a strong Government with a powerful policy agenda to lead the Nation in the next five years.

In the past five years, this Government has delivered significant national events, and now as we prepare to host world leaders at the APEC Summit, we must have a capable and experienced Government leading this process.

Drawing on the experience of the past five years, our Government in the next Parliament, will work as a group to manage all challenges that we face.

We will further work together to expand the delivery of services and infrastructure development to our remote and rural areas in all regions of Papua New Guinea.

Our Government will work with industry to increase investment and to diversify our economic base to strengthen the sectors that are at the heart of our economic future, including tourism, fisheries and agriculture, and the downstream processing of our minerals.

We will continue to empower our people through strong and dedicated Christian and State partnerships, and programs in education and healthcare.

Working as a cohesive team, we the Government Coalition, will take our great Nation to the next level of economic and community development by delivering stable policy that is relevant to the people of our nation.

………………………….. …………………………………..

Hon. Peter O’Neill, MP Rt. Hon. Sir Julius Chan, MP

Leader, People’s National Congress Party Leader, Peoples Progress Party

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***Official Statement Regarding Status of Buai Ban***

Ever since the Koki betel nut market was opened last year we have only partially lifted the betel nut ban. This was announced last year. It’s not a decision made now as reported in the national. The news in the national is incorrect.

We also have not allowed betel nut to be sold everywhere in the city as reported by the national. The revised strategy is to only allow regulated sale on a wholesale and retail basis that is to be sold at approved locations in the city. There has been some locations identified already and has been officially designated as vending sites. Our management is also in the process of identifying new locations. Announcement has been made in the past and others will be announced later when locations are identified and confirmed.

Please note that there will be no sale either in wholesale or retail at major shopping malls and public places.

The revised strategy will also include spraying and cleaning the roads and surrounding walls of betel nut spittle. This will be rolled out soon when the cleaning products are in country. It’s a shame for us to have to do this clean-up of our own filth but some of our people are still letting us down. I wish people learn to chew responsibly.

Despite what critics say the city is much better now due to the ban. We never promise an overnight success but we promised a journey. And we are getting there. Behaviour and habits takes time to change but we will surely get there. Change is inevitable.

This new strategy is an opportunity for all of us to show that we care for our city, our health, our image and our city as a national capital and as the face of PNG. Let us take ownership and responsibility for its well-being so it can give us a foundation for a better future

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*** Statement from the People’s National Congress, General Secretary, Mr. Joseph Kup. ***

“The 2017 National Elections are a time for the people of Papua New Guinea to decide who is the best equipped and most capable leader for their province or district.

“The people of Papua New Guinea deserve correct and factual information to make informed decisions before going to vote on the 24th of June.

“It is not fair or right that during this election campaign, our people have been bombarded with numerous lies, false stories, and claims of pending court cases.

“During these past five weeks of campaigning, I have seen the increasing number of personal attacks and the increased number of fake stories appearing on social media.

“In some cases, this has been the lowest forms of gutter politics used to try and discredit contesting candidates and sitting members.

“This simply disgusts me, and it is not becoming of potential candidates or sitting MP’s to behave in this fashion.”

“I am placing a call out to all party Presidents, General Secretaries, party executives, sitting members, and candidates, to be very mindful of your actions during these last three weeks of campaigning.

“I have extended the same sentiment to all PNC sitting members and candidates.

“Our Party Leader, Hon. Peter O’Neill and I will not tolerate any low-level gutter politics within the PNC. We will win on our delivery and merit.

“I ask that all candidates focus on your policies, what you have achieved, what you want to deliver, and the strategies you will employ for the people within your province or district.”

“The people and supporters of PNG are bright and intelligent, and they know when they are being deceived. I ask you to trust in your campaigning abilities, and continue to deliver your message.”

“You will not see the PNC behave in any other manner than professional and providing quality leadership credentials. We look forward to a fair and challenging last three weeks of campaigning with the respect that all parties deserve.”

***Meeting to Discuss Social Media***

Papua New Guinea is among Pacific Island countries that will develop a policy regarding the impact of social media on the public service when the next Pacific Public Service Commissioners’ Conference convenes in Noumea, New Caledonia, next year.

“So the theme of the conference in 2018 is going to be around open and transparent government and leadership, but we will be looking at specific issues like social media and its impact on transparency and the role of government,” Personnel Management Secretary John Kali said yesterday.

Mr Kali said social media, like Facebook, was influential, and the idea was for the public servants to develop values and ethics as guides for them to be responsible in their conduct when dealing with social media.

“We are trying to tell public servants that these values are important in your conduct; conduct is about decision making, so the decision that I make in terms of engaging in social media really depends on my value.

“If I have weak or no values, I’m going to engage in anything, but if I have strong ethical values, I exercise honesty, integrity, accountability, respect, transparency and wisdom,” Mr Kali said.

His counterpart, Vaosa Epa, who is the head of the Public Service Commission of Samoa, reiterated similar challenges the public service in other Pacific island countries faced.

Both acknowledged that social media, including Facebook, could misrepresent the public organisation or government’s stance on issues, and could have drastic negative impacts on other people, waste working hours and adds to unnecessary cost, and the conference next year is aimed at finding ways to address these issues for effective service delivery.

Mr Kali said the conference will also discuss on how the public can be engaged in influencing government policy development among other issues, like gender at the workplace.

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A tertiary graduates’ network in Port Moresby is organising a march to spread the word to PNG citizens to make wise decisions when voting in the elections.

This will be a first-of-its-kind event for the PNG Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship Graduates Network (PNG TSCFGN), Port Moresby Chapter.

Chairman of the Port Moresby Chapter, Conrad Kumul, said the main aim of the march is to emphasise the importance of this election, to educate and encourage the citizens not to just pray and stay away but take action by voting.

“It is also for the churches in the city to take a stand and to inform the general public to be patriotic and vote with a good, clear conscience.”

PNG TSCFGN will be hosting a press conference today at the PNG Bible Translation Association, located at Waigani, where the organising committee will officially announce the purpose of the of the White Shirt march that will take place on Saturday, 27th May, 2017.

“Our vision is to positively influence Papua New Guinea and beyond through an effective Christian professional network that strictly forbids politics and its association,” stated Kumul.